Velocipede.



M. KESTER.

vELoclPE'DE. l Mmc/mou msn M/m.2.'1sia.

Patented June 18, 1918.

MARCUS KESTER, OF OLNEY, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Application led March 2, 1918. Serial No. 220,016.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARcUs Kns'rcn, a citizen of the United States, resident of Olney, in the county of Richland and State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Velocipedes; and I declare the following tobc a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the 'accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

` The invention has relation to velocipedes, having for its object to provide a velocipede or tricycle, wherein the body, framework and steering means shall resemble exteriorly the body of an animal or horse. Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. j

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a front elevation; and Fig. 3, a top plan view of the velocipede.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, the numeral 2 designates the horizontal body, which may be of shell form having rear legs 3, in the lower` end portions of which the rear aXle or shaft 4 is provided with journal bearings, rear wheels 5, being located upon said shaft.

The steering post consists of the head 6, breast 7, and front legs 8, of the animal, made in one rigid part usually also of shell form, said legs forming the forks wherein the axle or shaft 9 of the front wheel 10 is journaled.

The body is provided with an upper 1ongitudinal projection 11 at its forward end and the breast is provided with a horizontal transverse bar 12, underlying said projection a vertical pivot bolt 13 connecting; these parts and forming the steering pivot. The body is cut away below at 14 forwardly thereof to clear the top of the front wheel. and is provided with forward lateral portions or ends 15 lapping over the rear of the sides of the breast portion of the horse, said body having a semi circular horizontal forward or top edge 16, closely engaging the neck 17 of the horse and concentric with the pivot bolt 13; and a front vertical edge 1.8 at each, side, in precise aline;

ment with said pvot bolt. The rear portion of the neck of the horse and of the breast of the animal are vertical and cylindrical as shown at 19, so that in steering the close joint of the top edge 16 and the vertical edge 18 of the body with the neck and breast of the animal will be always retained avoiding any gap or opening when the front part of the animal is turned pivotally.

The muzzle of the head projects forwardly of the steering pivot and the' mouth is provided with a bit or lateral projections 20, rotatable horizontally in bearings, a steering loop 21 of substantially rigid character having at its forward free ends rigid connection with the ends of said bit or projections, said loop projecting rearwardly within convenient reach of the rider and the rear of the loop being circular and concentric with the steering pivot, so that in steering when the head of the animal is swung to one side or the other, there will be no variation in the relative position of the rear handle part of the loop, the shifting of the grasp of the hands of the rider upon said handle portion being thereby facilitated and the loop being used in the manner of a steering wheel. The forward projection of the loop in front of the steering pivot being greater than the rearward projection thereof from said pivot, better leverage is enabled to be exerted upon the head of the horse in steering.

It is preferred that the body portion including the rear legs, and the front portion of the animal including the head, breast and front legs, shall each be comparatively light in weight, such parts being made of thin metal or even of papier mch cast or pressed in shell form, and that these two shells shall be strengthened and braced by inner frame-works of bar metal.

In the case of the body and rear legs, there is provided a horizontal top body-bar 22, rear upright forked leg-bars 23, connect ed at their upper ends to the body-bar at 21, and inclined brace or strut-bars 25, one at each side and connected at their upper ends to the body-bar at 26, and at their lower ends to the leg-bars at 27 the front end of the body-bar being utilized as a bearing for the pivot bolt.

The front portion of the animal is provided with upright bars 28, spread centrally thereof at 29 for the breast of the animal and also to allow rotary movement of the front portion without interference `of Athe* front end of the top body-bar, said upright bars-converging at their lower portions to form the forks for the front wheels, and converging at their upper portions along the neck off-the horse, the upper ends of-Said bars extended or bent forwardly at 30 along the head to the mouth ofthe animal, the bitl or lateral projections aforesaid having rotary bearings in the forward ends of the bars 30. y

The pedals 31 are connected in the usual way Yto the axle ofthe front wheel.

The invention provides a strong ,and durable velocipede or tricycle easily controlled andlsteered, and following closely the eXterior appearance of a lhorse `or other animal, therebyappealing to children.

I claimffv l. In a velocipede, a body of the form of an animal having rear legsrigid ytherewith and ,rear wheelsl journaled in said legs, a

steering postof the` form of the head, breastv and'forked `front legs of the animal `all rigidly connected,`a frontwh'eel journaled. inl

said yfront legs, a steering ivot boltconn necting` said body and steering post, and a Bomen of this patent may be obtained for steeringhandle loop having its forward free ends pivotally connected with the mouth portion of said head and a rear part-circular portion concentric with said pivotfbolt.

2. In avelooipede, a body of the form of an animal having rear legs rigid therewith and rear wheels journaled in said legs, a

steering post of the form of the head,y

breast and forked front legs of the animal all rigidly connected, a .front wheel journaled in said front legs, a steering-` pivot bolt connecting said body and said steering post, and a steering handle loop having its forward free ends pivotally connectedwith l the month lportion ofisaid head and a rear part-circular portion A concentric with said pivot bolt, said breast and the lower `part of the neck being cylindrical, and they-for-A ve cents eauh, by addressing the Commissioner of villateut,`

Washington, D; C.

In testimony whereof Iaiiix, my signature 

